{"id":120656,"date":"2022-08-30T11:03:07","date_gmt":"2022-08-30T15:03:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=120656"},"modified":"2022-08-30T11:29:41","modified_gmt":"2022-08-30T15:29:41","slug":"attorney-general-works-to-protect-access-to-reproductive-health-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=120656","title":{"rendered":"Attorney General works to protect access to reproductive health care"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

James reminds CVS and Walgreens that denying New Yorkers access to reproductive healthcare services is illegal in New York<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

New York Attorney General Letitia James took action to protect New Yorkers\u2019 access to reproductive health care prescriptions and products at CVS and Walgreens pharmacies. Employees at CVS and Walgreens stores in other states have reportedly refused to provide customers with birth control, condoms, emergency contraceptives and other medications related to reproductive health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James sent letters to CVS<\/a> and Walgreens<\/a> reminding the retail pharmacies that it is illegal in New York to deny customers prescribed or over-the-counter medications or products related to reproductive health care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPharmacies have a responsibility to safeguard New Yorkers\u2019 health, including by providing reproductive health care medications and products,\u201d James said<\/strong>. \u201cThe actions taken by some CVS and Walgreens employees in other states have sparked concerns nationwide and have raised serious questions that must be addressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet me be clear: I will not accept New Yorkers being denied access to essential health care products and services. I am proud to stand up for New Yorkers\u2019 reproductive rights, and I will always fight to preserve access to birth control and other reproductive health medications and options.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Yorkers seeking contraceptives or other reproductive health products at these two major chains have a right to receive those essential products. Reports from other<\/a> states<\/a> indicate that some employees at CVS and at Walgreens have refused to provide reproductive health products or services, and some Walgreens employees have even mistreated consumers by publicly harassing, embarrassing and shaming them. In her letters, James makes clear that similar behavior by CVS or Walgreens employees at any of their more than 1,000 locations throughout New York state is a violation of New York\u2019s public health and civil rights laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James requests that CVS and Walgreens provide more information about their refusal policies, which Walgreens has stated allows pharmacists to step away from filling a prescription for which they have a moral objection. It appears that the policy, in practice, may infringe upon New Yorkers\u2019 rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James is also requesting that Walgreens and CVS provide more information about:<\/p>\n\n\n\n